Automatic feeding device



Filed Oct. 1, 1927 INVENTOR.

TTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlGE FRANK D. CHAPMAN, OF BERLIN, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO BERLIN CHAPMAN COM- PANY, BERLIN, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN AUTOMATIC FEEDING DEVICE Application filed October 1, 1927. Serial No. 223,344.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic feeding devices, more particularly, although not solely, adapted for .continuous cookers, coolers and other like machines.

Continuous cookers are usually provided with rotary and spirally trending guides which with the drums form pockets for receiving and carrying the cans of food through the heating or cooling medium, within the tanks in which the reel drums and spirals are mounted.

o It is one of the objects of the invention to provide an automatic feeding device which will feed cans of food to and directly deposit said cans into the pockets of the drum without the interposition of other means. I

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic feeding device in which the cans are fed to the rotating drum of the cooker in timed relation to the registration of the inner drum pockets with the inlet opening of the cooker tank.

A further object of the invention is to provide'an automatic feeding device in which the cans moved by the feeding device are retained and controlled by said device up to the instant of discharge into the drum pockets to eliminate any possibility of some of the cans notbeing properlyplaced in the pockets of the drum.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic feeding device which is driven by the same means that drives the reel or drum. A further object 0f the invention is to provide an automatic feeding device which extends transversely entirely around the continuous cooker or other machine on which it is mounted.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automaticfeeding device which is of simple construction, is strong and durable, and is well adapted for the purpose described.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists of the improved automatic feeding device and its parts and combinations as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

. Inthe accompanying drawing in which the I-beams 6. The tank above its base portion 5 is of circular form in cross section to accommodate the fixed spirally trending canway or guide 7 which extends circumferentially from one end to the other of and adjacent the inner wall of the circular portion of the tank. The

tank is closed at both ends and is provided with an inlet opening 8 in its upper periphery which extends at an angle to the axis of the drum and parallel to the angle of the spiral guide 7 ,and in alinement with the space between two convolutions of the spiral. The spirally trending guide 7 is formed of commercial metal, of T-shape in crosssection, with the stem portion 9 extending radially inwardly to form end guiding means for the cans. The other flange 10 of the spiral extends spirally circumferentially on both sides ofthe radial flange and forms the sup orting means upon which the cans 11 roll. ortions of vthe flange 10 of the spiral adjacent the inlet opening are cut away, as indicated by the numeral'12, to permit feeding the cans therebetween to the spiral guide 7. A drum or reel 13 mounted on a longitudinally extending shaft 14 is formed with longitudinally extending angle bars 15 which are spaced apart a distance approximately the same as the diameter of the cans ll to form,

.in connection with the spiral guide 7, can

pockets 16 for receivlng and moving the cans through the cooker. The tank at its other end (not shown) is provided with a can discharge opening.

The improved automatic feeding device comprises an endless chain belt 17 which consists of spaced chain sections 17 joined 2 together by spaced transverse bars or flights tion of the tank. Said pair of driving sprockets have a sprocket wheel, chain and gear connection 23 with a counter shaft 24 mounted on the upper portion of the tank. The counter shaft 24 has a pulley 25 for connection'with a source of power and a geared v connection 26 with the drum shaft 14 to rotate the can drum or reel. The sprocket chain and gear connections between the counter shaft and the chain sprocket wheels, and

between the counter shaft and thedrum shaft,

are so proportioned that the chain belt will travel at approximately the same speed as the peripheral speed of the drum, so that the can spaces of the chain passing through the- I tank inlet opening will always be in exact register with the can pocketsof the drum and spiral guide adjacent the inlet opening.

An upwardly inclined guideway 27 formed of side members 28 and a bottommember 29 extends on opposite sides and beneath the portion of the endless belt between the sprocket vwheels 20 and the upper portion of the tank, and the food cans being carried by the chain will be supported and roll on the bot tom member 29. The upper end 29' off the bottom member 29 extends into the inlet opening of the tank and just clears the peripheral portion of the drum, so that cans will be supported up to the point they drop into the drum pockets. The inlet opening is also ofa size to permit the chain to partly enter the inlet opening to control the movement of thecans up to the instant they are theyare in'the drum pockets. This feature is very important in order to eliminate any possibility'of the cansaccidentally not/entering the drum pockets and blocking the feed. A downwardly inclined can runway or trough 30 is' positioned above the pair of sprocket wheels 20 adjacent the inclined sec-' tion of the chain and the lower end portion e ofthe bottom member 29 to feed cans to the said chain section." I V The lower travel of the chain beneath the.

tank is supported upon angled guide me1n bers 31, and the bearingof the sprocket is varied with different kinds of food being cooked and by actuating the feeding device from the same source of motion prov1ded for the tank, the movement of the carrier has a timed speed relation to the rotation of the of the cans of food through the cooking tank tank rotary member toregister the carrier can 7 spaces with the rotary member pockets at all speeds of rotation of the rotary member.

While the drawing shows and the 'specification describesthe automatic feeding device used in connection"with a continuous cooker, it is'to be understood that the device may be used for feeding cans to machines other than cookers without departing from the spirit and scope of the'inventioi'n From the foregoing description, itwill be seen that the automatic feeding device ex tends entirely around the tank and that the upper feeding portion of theendless belt or chain; passes closely over the drum pockets 7 and in timed-relation thereto, and feedsth'e cans directly thereto. TheIin-ventionis very can receiving pockets, of an automatic, feeds L ing devicetherefor, comprising an endless carrier member extending in a line parallel to the spiral member and at an oblique angle to the axisof the tank and over the tank directly adjacent the inlet opening and having can receiving spaces, and means for moving the carrierat aspeed in timed relation to' 7 the speed of rotation of the inner rotary memher to aline the can spaces of the carrier with i the pockets of the rotary member.

2. The combination with a cooker "tank having an inlet opening in its upper periphcry and a spiral member: and an inner rotary member provided with can receiving pockets, l

of an automatic feeding device therefor, comprising an endless carrier member extend ing in a line parallel to theconvolutions of the spiral member and at an oblique angle to the axis of the tank around and directly overthe tank and into the inletlopening in close cooker tankat all s'peeds ofrotation of the rotary member.

3. The combination with a cooker tank having an upper inlet opening and a spiral member'and an innerrot'ary memberpro vided with can receiving epockets-,-of' an auto-l matic fee-ding device therefor, comprising an end-less chainv carrier member extending in a Ice 7 line parallel to the convolutions of the spiral member and at an oblique angle to the axis of the tank transversely around the tank and directly into the inlet opening in close proximity to the rotary member, and having link matic feeding device therefor, comprising an endless chain carrier member extending in aline parallel to the convolutions of the spiral guide and transversely around the tank and into the inlet opening in close proximity to the rotary member, and having link portions forming can receiving spaces, a portion of the carrier being guided and extending upwardly at an angle and directly into said inlet opening, and means for rotating the inner rotary member and for moving the carrier at a speed in timed relation to the speed of rotation of the rotary member to aline the can spaces of the carrier with the pockets of the rotary member at all speeds of rotation of the rotary member.

5, The combination with a cooker tank having an upper inlet opening, an inner spiral guide and an inner rotary member provided with bars forming in connection with the spiral guide, can receiving pockets, of an automatic feeding device therefor, comprising an endless chain carrier member extending in a line parallel to the convolutions of the spiral guide and at an oblique angle to the axis of the tank and transversely around the tank and directly into the inlet opening in close proximity to the rotary member, and having link portions forming can receiving spaces, a portion of the carrier being guided and extending upwardly at an angle into said inlet opening, means for rotating the inner rotary member and for moving the carrier at a speed in timed relation to the speed of rotation of the rotary member to aline the can spaces of the carrier directly'with the pockets of the rotary member at all speeds of rotation of the rotary member, and means for feeding cans to the lower part of the guided portion of the chain 7 carrier.

tending in a line parallel to the convolutions of the spiral guide and transversely around the tank and directly into the inlet opening in close proximity to the rotary member and having link portions forming can receiving spaces, a portion of the carrier being guided and extending upwardly at an angle into said inlet opening to control the movement of the cans while they are being discharged into the pockets of the rotary member, means for rotating the inner rotary member and for moving the carrier at a speed in timed relation to the speed of rotation of the rotary member to aline the can spaces of the carrier in the inlet opening with the pockets of the rotary member at all speeds of rotation of the rotary member, and means for directing cans into the can spaces adjacent the lower part of the guided portion of the chain carrier.

7. The combination with a tank having an upper inlet opening, an inner spiral guide and an inner rotary member provided with bars forming in connection with the spiral guide, can receiving pockets, of an automatic feeding device therefor, comprisin a countershaft mounted on the tank and aving a driving connection with the inner rotary member, a sprocket wheel mounted on the tank and having a driving connection with the counter shaft, other spaced sprocket wheels, a guide member extending at an angle from one of the other sprocket wheels upwardly to the inlet opening of the tank, an endless sprocket chain carrier extending transversely around the tank and directly into the inlet opening and engaging the sprocket wheels and the guide member, said carrier extending in a line parallel to the spiral guide and at an oblique angle to the axis of the drum, said carrier having cross members forming can pockets, the peripheral speed of the rotary member being approximately the same as the speed of travel of the carrier into the inlet opening to radially aline the can spaces of the portion of the carrier close to the rotary member with the pockets of the rotary member to permit direct control of the cans from the can spaces -directly to the can pockets, and means for feeding cans to the portion of the carrier adjacent the lower end of the guide member.

In testimony whereof, I afix my signature.

FRANK D. CHAPMAN. 

